An affordable housing project that provides 44 single-room-occupancy units of housing for low-income residents, Colorado Court is not only the first building of its type in the country to be 100% energy neutral, but also the first to achieve a LEED “Gold” rating. Colorado Court has set the standard for future affordable housing projects, proving that energy efficiency is an attainable goal in concert with design excellence, economy of means, and livability.
Colorado Court distinguishes itself from most conventionally developed projects in that it incorporates energy efficient measures that exceed standard practice, optimize building performance, and ensure reduced energy use during all phases of construction and occupancy. The planning and design of the project emerged from close consideration and employment of passive solar design strategies. Colorado Court also features a natural gas powered turbine/heat recovery system that generates the base electrical load and hot water demands for the building and a solar electric panel system integrated into the façade and roof of the building, which supplies most of the peak load electricity demand.
Client
Community Corporation of Santa Monica
City of Santa Monica
Project Team
Pugh Scarpa Kodama (architect)
Helios International (energy efficiency consultant)
Dry Design (landscape architect)
Ruiz Brothers Construction Co. (general contractor)
Mike Guccione & Associates (construction manager)
Marvin Rand (photography)
Awards
Rudy Bruner Prize, 2003
National AIA Honor Award, 2003
National AIA/COTE, “Top Ten Green Project” Award, 2003
National AIA PIA Award, 2003
AIA/CC Honor Award, 2003
AIA/LA Honor Award, 2003
BHS&F World Habitat Award, Finalist, 2002
Westside Prize for Urban Design, 2002
Exhibited at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC, 2004
